Why go?

After I got back from Mexico, I was asked "Why go?" It seems like a fair question. OK, so you go spend a week in Mexico, go to the beach with a bunch of kids, do a little construction,3 nights of VBS. Wouldn't it be much more cost-effective to send money? You are not bringing any of the kids back. Can spending a few hours a day with them even make any difference at all?

The short answer: If the Lord puts going (anywhere) on your heart, GO!!!!!!!

God created us for relationship; we NEED to be in relationship with Him, we need to be in relationship with other people. We are His hands and feet. James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by this world."

It's easy to think, "I can't do that, it would be too hard on me emotionally." It often requires sacrifice to answer God's call. It may be hard. We may have to feel pain or sadness. We may have to miss our family for a week, two weeks or more.

I'm not suggesting that the Lord is calling everyone to care for orphans, but if you feel that He is calling you, I challenge you to say, "Here I am, send me".

I've also been struck by the realization that I could have been an orphan. My children could one day be orphaned...."do unto others, the way that you would have them do unto you"

We can not rescue the world. We may not even be able to take in one child. But we are to do what we can. Our team spent only 1 week at the orphanage. We all hope to return in January or February. Maybe our calling is to be like special aunts and uncles who visit, give love and attention.... then look forward to returning to visit again.

These particular children would probably be better off in their own culture. They have been raised in a culture that values relationships and people above performance and production. Although is was hard to leave them, we knew that they were getting good care, love and attention.

They had various heart-breaking backgrounds. But were not defined by what they came from. We live in a fallen world. Many of us have dysfunctional families, pasts and upbringings... but God is so gracious to His people!

One young man was found chained to a tree. He did not have a name or know how to speak. He came to Casa Hogar, was given a name, much care and teaching, and hope. Many of the children have lost one parent and the living parent either could not care for them, or chose to abandon them. A set of brothers is there because their father and other siblings died of AIDS and their mother is currently dying of AIDS.

These children have hope. They need for God's people to encourage them and show them love and compassion in Jesus' name. I challenge you to do what you can for the children that the Lord lays on your heart.